LowcoSports.com
Beaufort Academy’s girls basketball team opened its season with a 54-46 win over Palmetto Christian on Thursday in the Battle in the Lowcountry in North Charleston, but the Eagles dropped their next two games – 51-45 to host Cathedral Academy and 51-36 to Fort Dorchester – to finish the weekend 1-2.
Mike’Ala Washington poured in 19 points, Tahleea Heyward added 16, and Kamirah Freeman contributed 13 to lead an efficient attack in the opener, as BA put up 19 first-quarter points and added 18 in the third quarter to extend a four-point halftime lead to eight. The Eagles were able to hold off PCA despite 22 points from Cokey Suddeth.
That put BA in a position to play its way into the championship game with a win over host Cathedral on Saturday, but the Eagles were buried by a sluggish start, as they were outscored 21-6 in the opening quarter and couldn’t claw out of the hole. The Eagles used a 21-5 run spanning the third and fourth quarters to pull within four with two minutes left but couldn’t get over the hump.
Heyward scored 22 points, Washington added 13, and Freeman had eight for BA, while Jalyn Almeida scored 17 and Paige Pouyat had 16 to lead the Generals.
BA had to settle for fourth place after falling in another early hole against Class 5A Fort Dorchester on Sunday. The Patriots raced to a 16-5 lead after one quarter before BA trimmed it to 28-19 at halftime, but the Eagles couldn’t muster enough at the offensive end to keep up.
Heyward scored 13 points, Freeman had 10, and Washington added nine in the finale. Denver Mathis scored 17 points and Kai Mack added 11 to lead Fort Dorchester.
BA (1-2) plays at Hilton Head Island High on Nov. 29.
